The Wildphotos Team

Wildphotos Safaris uses only the most accomplished safari guides alongside Daryl & Sharna Balfour, as we believe a huge part of the success or failure of a safari depends on the quality of the guiding. Guides should be more than someone who can point out and name the fauna and flora of an area and we have experienced all too often modern-day guides (or “rangers” as some like to be called) with very little experience of the bush, who feel the best way to impress their guests is to rattle off the Latin names of birds, trees, animals and grasses. Many of the safari guides in use at lodges and camps around Africa are barely out of school, or judge their experience in the number of diplomas they have gained at “ranger schools” rather than the hard yards of years in the wilderness. We also believe that only a small part of a guide’s responsibilities lie in the bush, and a good guide should be able to ensure their guests have a complete experience, be it with their knowledge of a country’s economy, politics and infrastructure, or the ability to suggest a suitable wine to match the evening meal, and their ability to entertain guests with fireside tales about the denizens of the bush, and maybe even their experiences with them.

Daryl & Sharna Balfour have decades of experience among the wildlife and in the wilderness areas of Africa, and today only employ guides whose knowledge and experience matches or surpasses their own. As such Wildphotos Safaris can be proud in asserting that their guests’ safari experience will be greatly enhanced by the quality of the guiding, the knowledge, companionship, hosting and personalities of the guides that work with us.

We work regularly with several guides with whom we have built up long-standing relationships, and can also call on others whose skills, experience, knowledge and personalities we respect and admire.

Daryl Balfour

Daryl Balfour (Delta Bravo) was born and raised in South Africa. He spent many childhood holidays in the company of wildlife conservationists such as the legendary Dr Ian Player, and along with his wife Sharna has been a professional wildlife photographer and safari guide since 1986. Daryl's photography is represented by some of the leading photo agencies worldwide, and along with Sharna he has published more than a dozen wildlife coffee-table books and countless magazine articles. Daryl has guided safaris throughout East, West and Southern Africa as well as Canada, Alaska and Antarctica, and enjoys sharing his photographic knowledge and skills with his guests. Apart from our set departures, Daryl specializes in arranging and leading private safaris for small groups or families throughout Africa.

Speak to us about your special private itinerary.

Sharna Balfour

Sharna Balfour (Sierra Bravo) was raised on a farm in Swaziland and spent many childhood holidays in the nearby Kruger Park. Since 1986 she has shared a life in the wilderness with Daryl, managing safari camps in Botswana and co-producing more than a dozen popular coffee-table books on Africa's wild places and wild animals. Sharna is a compassionate teacher and takes time over sharing her photographic skills and knowledge with her guests - many of whom probably have nightmares about histograms, blinkies and using their beanbags long after sharing a drive with her! She has spent countless hours in the bush just watching and waiting for the perfect moment for photography, time that has helped hone her understanding of wildlife behaviour and has helped her with an ability to predict and anticipate the "right moment" to get the shot. Sharna is the rose amongst the thorns of the Wildphotos guiding team, and has turned the Wildphotos mobile safari camp into Kenya into something special that draws guests back time & again.

Phil West

Phil West (Papa Whisky, or Crocophil) is a third generation Kenyan who spent most of his childhood in Tsavo National Park.

These formative years growing up in this great wildlife ecosystem naturally led him to a career in safaris. His specialty area has become adventure and walking safaris as well as tracking big game on foot. He has a special affinity for crocodiles.

Having completed a degree in African History and Tourism at Oxford Brookes University in England, Phil went to South Africa to complete a comprehensive ﬁeld guiding training program, where he attained the highest level of certiﬁcation from the FGASA (Southern Africa Guide Association). He currently sits on the exam committee of the KPSGA (Kenyan Professional Guides Association) for which he helped compile the Silver Level Syllabus. In between safaris, Phil regularly trains Kenyan guides of all categories in camps throughout Kenya.

Phil worked as head guide for three years in the world famous Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Since then, he has led safaris all over Africa, from tracking desert elephants in the Namibian Desert and canoeing the Zambezi River, to following Gorillas and Chimps through the Ugandan Forests.

In the past few years, Phil has been hired by the Discovery Channel as the presenter of the episode "I shouldn’t be Alive- Jaws of death", and as the "Survival Expert" to Bear Grylls of Ultimate Survival/Man Vs. Wild, in Grylls' African Savannah episode (Discovery Channel UK).

Phil has been an integral part of Wildphotos Safaris' Kenyan trips for many years.

Pierre Burton

Pierre Burton (Papa Bravo) is a third generation Kenyan & son of a well-known professional hunter & safari operator. Having spent most of his childhood in the bush & under canvas he likes nothing better than to share his love of East Africa & its peoples with guests & friends.

Pierre finished his education in Switzerland with a diploma in Tourism Management & has since been actively involved in the East African tourism sector & various conservation projects. He now spends all his time on safari & is an active member of the KPSGA, the Kenyan Professional Safari Guides Association.

Pierre's natural enthusiasm for the bush is contagious & makes him both a fun & knowledgeable companion to have on Safari. Pierre spends the months of August & September with Wildphotos Safaris every year during our annual Maasai Mara Wildebeest Migration safaris, but is also available for special departures throughout the year.

Pierre has been an integral part of Wildphotos Safaris' Kenyan trips for many years.

Johann du Toit

Johann du Toit (Johnny 2-3) is a born & bred Kenyan and an experienced and popular safari guide. He is the owner and administrator of the definitive Maasai Mara website, maasaimara.com and thus a specialist in this fantastic African game park. Johann has worked with Wildphotos Safaris since 2007 as a specialist guide whenever needed.

Alex Rostocil

It was a passion for the African bush that drew Alex (Alpha Romeo, or Sportscar) to become a wildlife guide in the mid 1990s. Almost two decades later his passion for the bush is stronger than ever. For Alex it is a privilege to share wildlife encounters with guests, whether it is their first visit to Africa or their fifteenth, and it is as exciting for him to do so today as it was when he first started guiding.

Alex knows that an outstanding wildlife guide must be able to do more than simply track and locate animals – that should go without saying. What makes the difference between a good safari and a great one is a complete immersion into the rhythm of the bush, the endless subtleties and mysteries of the living landscape and its wildlife, big and small. Alex takes equal delight in the charismatic mega fauna of the Big Five, and the wonders of the most seemingly ordinary of plants and grasses. All of this he is ready to share with his guests, whether out in the bush or gathered around the campfire under the African stars.

Alex did his guide training in South Africa and spent his first years guiding for different safari operators in East Africa.

In short, Alex combines a wealth of experience with a deep and enduring love of guiding. As a natural ‘people person’, he is an entertaining, engaging and always professional host, while his integrity, range of experience and work ethic ensures every safari runs smoothly.